Ring forming machine



Feb. 21, 1933. Q L w s 1,898,072

RING FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1928 IN VENTOR.

CHARLES L.vvn ;s BY Q A TTOR NE Y.

Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES CHARLES L. wILns, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO Bonn WHEEL ooMrANY, or

PATEN orrlcs PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANEA RING FORMING MACHINE Application filed January 3, 1928. Serial No. 244,359.

The rims of automobile wheels are very commonly formed to precise dimension by a process of expansion and contraction, process which, in itself has been long used. The

process consists in first expanding a rim to an over-size, the metal being stretched beyond its elastic limit and partaking of this over-size. Then by a reverse operation the rim is contracted from the over-size dimension precisely to the size desired, the metal being again worked against the elastic hunt and taking a permanent set of thecontracted dimension. The machines used for the purpose are known as expanding and contracting machines. They have annularly arranged radially movable toggle operated jaws, in the one case operating from the interior of the wheel rim to expand it outwardly and in the other case acting exteriorly to contract it to dimension.

It is with this type ofring forming machines that my invention has particularly to do. But it will be quite apparent that it may have some field of utility in connection with other forming operations performed on rings.

The prime object is to efficiently feed work into and eject it from such machines. Such machines are commonly provided with working heads in a plane inclined sharply to'the horizontal with a View to easier insertion and removal of the work. The work has heretofore been inserted and removed altogether by manual operation. The ejector of my invention not only makes it easier for the work to be inserted but aids in that insertion, and in addition so ejects the work that it can be most readily removed.

From this latter point of view a second object of my invention is to enable the work to be placed upon and removed from the machine in a substantial vertical plane whereby to still further facilitate insertion and withdrawal.

Still a third object of my invention is to increase the rate of production of such machines. These machines are ordinarily operated continuously and there is, therefore,

but a limited time interval withinwhich the work may be removed and inserted. Insertion and removal are, therefore, subject to the limitations of the workman. My invention is intended to remove it from such limitations and render it subject wholly to the mechanical limitations of the machine itself.

The invention comprises in combination with a movable forming head of such a machine, a work ejector operable through movement of the forming head. The work ejector comprises an element movable toward and from the base of the head and in a position to underlie the upper portion of the ring whereby in the ejecting movement the ring is turned about its lower edge outwardly at an angle to the plane of the head andinto a position more nearly vertical than the plane of the head, in which the upper portion stands free thereof and can be grasped without obstruction and delay by the hand of the operator. The relatively small portion of the total axial movement of the head utilizable for the ejection movement by reason of the necessity for the utilization of the relatively large portion thereof for the toggle operation incident to the forming, l transform into a large range of movement through theintroduction of a motion multiplyingmechanism. The mechanism operates in synchronism with the machine, and thereafter in perfectly timed relation to the forming operation.

Figure l is a ver ical longitudinal section of a rim contracting machine showing the embodied ejector mechanism in full lines in receiving position and in dotted lines in ejecting position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the forming head.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of an energy storing device in the operating connection.

The machineof my invention is similar in its general characteristics to that disclosed in the patent to Grotnes, No. 1,407,148.

The forming head is designated generally 10. It comprises an outer fixed ring 11 carried from the fixed frame 12 of the machine and an inner relatively movable head 13 comprised of the series of radially movable abutments 14 which may carry suitable dies conforming to the shape of the work to be operated upon. These abutments encompass the entire periphery of the ring 15 to be operated upon. They are individually radially movable by means of the toggles 16. Toggles 16 are caused to function through the axial movement of the head 13. In addition to the movable segments 14 the head 13 comprises a bed plate 17 on which the segments are slidably mounted in ways 18. The bed plates 17 are carried at the upper end of an axially extended column 19. Column 19 is reciprocated in the bearings 20 in frame 12 by a connecting rod connection 21 with crank or eccentric 22. Through this connection toggles 16 are oscillated and the segments 14 of the radially acting head forced inwardly at great pressure to form the ring previously held upon the inner face of the head.

The ejector mechanism comprises an arm 23 pivoted by its lower end at 24 in such manner that its upper end may swing toward and from the head 13. Arm 23 is provided with two fingers 25 and 26 at its upper end which symmetrically underlie the upper portion of the ring 15 to be formed. These fingers are provided with shoulders 27 which assist in seating and aligning the upper portion of the ring.

Pivot 24 is by means of pedestal 27 directly connected to the bed 17 of the head 13. The lower end of the arm is provided with a short extension 28. This extension is connected by a link 29 to the long end of a lever 30 fulcrumed at 31 on a second pedestal 32 also connected with the bed 17. In fact, pedestals 27 and 32 are founded on a commonbase block 33 detachably connected with the bed 17. The short end of lever 30 projects upwardly beyond 31.

Underlying the short end of lever 30 is an actuating pin 34 journaled parallel to the axis of the machine in the bed 17 This actuated pin is made in two parts, upper and lower. The upper part 35 directly engages the short end of lever 30 and is movable both with and with respect to the head 17. The lower part 36 is fixed to the bearing 20 of the machine. The two parts are connected by a spiral spring 37 which bears upon shoulders 38 formed on the adjoining ends of the rods. Within the spring the adjoining ends of the upper and lower portions 35 36 may on occasion abut each other. The upper portion 35 is further journaled in an extension 38' of the base 33. Between base 33 and the long end of fulcrum 30 is a spiral spring 39 normally under compression. This spring is sufficiently powerful to overcome the tension of spring 37 and thereby, unless the adjoining ends of portions 3536 and rod 34 abut, to retain the parts in the full line positions in which fingers 25 and 26 lie against the segments 14 of ring 15.

The operation is as follows. The machine being started and the head 13 having an axial reciprocation, there is imparted to the segments 14 of ring 15 a radial movement inward and outward on alternating strokes of the head. The arrangement of the parts is such that toward the end of the back stroke, the axial motion of power transmission being near its close and the segments being withdrawn (either directly by toggles 16 or by suitable springs, not shown), the adjoining ends of portions 35-36 of rod 34 engage each other within the spiral spring 37 and the upper end is thrust outwardly of its bearing 38, thereby through the motion multiplying mechanism comprised of lever 30 and arm 23, quickly or suddenly moving fingers 2526 away from head 13 and into the dotted line position shown. The ring occupying the position shown in full line is moved with it to the dotted line position at an angle to the head 10 and in a plane more nearly approaching the vertical. In this position it may be most readily grasped by the hand and removed and another ring is readily put in place. 'Thereupon the forward stroke of the head 13 ensuing, the portions 3536 are again separated, the spring 39 over-powers spring 37 and the freshly held ring borne by fingers 25-26 on their shoulders 27 is turned about its lower edge into the plane of the head 10. It is there engaged by the segments 14 and operated upon whereupon the reverse stroke is entered upon with a repetition of the ejecting movement. The adjoining ends of the portions 35-36 of rod 34 engage each other. over-power spring 39 and again oscillate the arm 23 and with it about its lower portion the ring 15 to the dotted line position.

Spring 37 acts as an energy storing device and may be sufiiciently powerful when compressed to a certain extent to overcome spring 39 whereby the outward movement is made still more sudden.

That portion of the ejector mechanism comprising levers 23 and 30 and their interconnection is aunit and may be applied as such to any standard machine where the standard machine coupled with the operating pin 34 as mounted constitutes the remainder of the ejector mechanism at large.

Of modifications there are probably quite as many which are possible without departing from the spirit of theinvention as in the average case. The mechanism is self-contained; is applicable with the space encompassed by the rim to any standard type of machine; through its movements of oscillation, it oscillates the ring about its lower margin to a position where an operator can feed a machine operated at a rate greater by far than heretofore possible. An interpretation of the attached claims is intended to be such as to cover any modifications which accomplish these and other advantageous ends accompanying the use of the invention.

\Vhat I claim as new and useful and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A machine of the character described comprising a movable forming head which receives and acts upon the Work which head is arranged at an angle to the vertical, and a work ejector in connection with said head operable through movement thereof and having a work ejecting position approximately vertical.

2. In a machine of the character described, a movable forming head which receives and acts upon the work,which head is arranged at an angle to the vertical, and a work ejector in connection therewith operated through movement of the head and having an engaging part underlying the top of the work and in the ejecting movement tilting the work about its lower edge to a position raised from said head.

3. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of radially acting dies which receive and act upon the work, a reciprocating head operatively connected to the dies to reciprocate the same, a work ejector movably connected with the head, and means for reciprocating the head and for moving said work ejector with respect to the head to positively eject the work therefrom.

l. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of radially reciprocable dies, an axially reciprocable head operatively connected to said dies to reciprocate the same, a work ejector carried by the head, and lever mechanism connecting said ejector with the head whereby movement of the head actuates said ejector.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a radially reciprocable forming mechanism, a reciprocable head operatively connected to said forming mechanism to reciprocate the same, a work ejector pivotally mounted on said head, and means operatively connecting said ejector with the head whereby movement of the head will rock said ejector about its pivot to actuate the same.

6. A machine of the character described comprising radially reciprocable forming mechanism, an axially reciprocable head, means operated by the axial reciprocation of said head for reciprocating said forming mechanism, a work ejector carried by said head, and means for reciprocating the head and for moving said ejector angularly with respect to said head to disengage the work from said head.

7. A machine of the character described comprising radially reciprocable forming mechanism, an axially reciprocable head, means operated by the axial reciprocation of said head for reciprocating said forming mechanism, a work ejector carried by said head and movable with respect thereto, and means operatively connecting said ejector With said head whereby reciprocation of said his signature.

CHARLES L. WILES. 

